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GRANVILLE - Decades of knowledge and experience will walk out the door of the village offices Friday when sisters Bobbi Stover and Susan Hand retire together.

The seventh-generation Granville residents have given a combined 48 years of service to local government.

Stover accepted the job of clerk of courts in 1989; Hand became village receptionist in 1993.

Their service spans numerous administrations and has seen the village grow in size and population.

“It will be tough not being a part of all this,” Stover said. “I really enjoy it, and I’m going to miss it.”

As clerk of mayor’s court, the 1969 Granville High School graduate takes a personal touch in performing her responsibilities, her sister said.

In addition to making receipt of all parking, criminal and traffic tickets on a daily basis, Hand said her sister takes special pains to help those who come through the court system, particularly young first-timers.

“She helps students out and they are so grateful,” Hand said. “They stay in touch, and they send Christmas cards and photos of their children.”

Stover said, “I try to make it personal and one-to-one. It’s a first-time experience and they’re often scared. Hopefully, it’s also a one-time experience.”

While many communities have stepped away from mayor’s courts actually operated by elected officials in favor of magistrates, Stover said it’s the local control that should be valued by residents who pass through Granville mayor’s court.

“What nice about our mayor’s court is that it’s actually handled by the mayor and vice mayor,” she said.

Hand joined the village in May of 1993. As receptionist, she is the gatekeeper and first face that greets those entering the village offices on East Broadway.

Sometimes, those visitors can be a bit of a challenge. “Believe me, she does get some riff-raff,” Stover said.

Much of Hand’s time, particularly around July 4, is spent simply answering questions about fireworks and parades and helping to connect people, Hand said.

Because of their deep roots in the community, few faces aren’t at least a little familiar to the siblings: “We see a lot of people who come back for reunions,” Hand said, who is this year celebrating her 50th anniversary of graduation from GHS. “Most of our acquaintances now are in Kendal,” she joked.

Over so many years of service, the sisters have not only seen their respective workloads increase, but have also seen the village shift, “from mom and pop grocery stores and gas stations … there’s no Taylor’s anymore where everyone hung out at the soda fountain after school,” Hand said.

Still, it’s mostly change for the better, they both agreed, stressing the value of continuing efforts to keep the village “historic-looking.”

Their longest service under a mayoral administration has been to Melissa Hartfield.

“I’ve worked with Bobbi since I’ve been the mayor, starting at end of 2005," the mayor said. "She is probably one of most experienced, knowledgeable people in regards to being clerk of courts I’ve ever encountered. She is thorough, good with people, understanding and helpful. She and Susan have deep, deep roots in this community. They are natives to Granville, and it’s been so nice having them here.”

Of Hand, Hartfield said, “At any given moment, she knows where pretty much every single person is on the staff. She knows all of the events going on, everything going on in town – the who, what, where, when and the why. Susan is just a great face to have there at city hall. I will miss them both so terribly much.”

Village Manager Steve Stilwell said, “They typify what the village has come to expect at Village Hall. They’re knowledgeable, inviting and helpful. We all have learned from them, every day.”

Noting it’s “always a challenging situation following community institutions,” Stilwell said “the next generation” is in place in the persons of Susan Riggins, who will be the new receptionist, and Amanda Wohlford, who will become mayor’s court clerk.

The synchronized timing of the sisters’ resignations resulted from Stover’s decision to wrap things up. When that choice was made, Hand decided to retire, as well.

Hand and her husband have a home in Muskingum County, but just bought a new place on Apple Valley Lake where Stover and her husband have 12-acres in Knox County. The two are looking forward to spending more time with family, and will continue to spend time together on the Stovers’ boat.

“It’s been fun times,” Stover said. “It’s been fun working together as a family. It’s going to be very sad on June 3.”

The community is invited to a reception to stop by and thank Stover and Hand for their service from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday in Village Hall, 141 E. Broadway.